Strauss had been widely tipped to take on the role, a post created by the ECB last month following Paul Downton's sacking as managing director.Strauss' appointment follows a month-long recruitment process led by ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.
"Andrew’s breadth of ideas, his passion for England cricket and his proven leadership skills shone out," Harrison said in the ECB website. "He was an exceptional England captain, is an authoritative voice on the modern game and has a wealth of experience building successful teams.
"Andrew is also widely respected across the sporting landscape. We’re delighted he’s joining us at the ECB as we set out to create a new strategy for the game."
